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Resumes for Getting a Job in Washington—Ten Basic Tips PURPOSE OF THE RESUME: The purpose of the resume is not to get you a job, but to get you an interview. The resume is the first stage of the initial employer/employee contact. THE LENGTH OF THE RESUME: A resume (particularly in Washington, D.C.) should be no more than one page in length. If your resume is more than one page, SHRINK IT. A resume is not a comprehensive, detailed history of your life and career—that is a curriculum vitae typically used in academia, the legal profession and other fields. A resume should be a summary of your skills and experience. If necessary, limit job descriptions to one or two sentences, stressing your accomplishments. Your resume should be easy and quick to read. PAPER COLOR: White or ivory colored paper is recommended. It is important to avoid bright neon colors or any colors that appear loud and unprofessional. It is not the color of the resume that makes a candidate stand out, it is the clarity of his/her resume. PROOFREADING: It is important to have three different people proofread your resume for mistakes. The most common mistakes are spelling errors, inconsistency and gaps in dates. Ask current or past employers, your colleagues, and your mother or father to critique it for common errors. RESUME STYLE: In Washington, D.C., it is important to list your resume with experience first. This is the first item people will look for. Education and Skills should follow. It is also important to list education first if experience is limited. Remember to list internships; this allows recent graduates to show some experience and familiarity with the public policy profession. Make sure your resume uses only one or two clear fonts of a reasonable size (8 point is too small, 16 point is too large). The key is to keep it neat and simple. SHOW DATES AND LOCATIONS: It is important to list dates and locations for all jobs, internships, etc. Make sure that dates showing large gaps or overlap are justified. Do not forget to note the dates of educational degrees, graduate studies, etc. AVOID LONG SENTENCES AND LARGE BLOCKS OF TYPE: The reader’s first glance at your resume is usually a brief one. Make sure your resume is easy to understand. Avoid acronyms, long sentences or vague language. You do not want someone to have to sit and think about what you are trying to convey. TAILOR YOUR RESUME: Customize your resume to emphasize your skills related to a particular job. For example, if you are seeking a political job, you should indicate all relevant political experiences (College Republicans, campaign experience, etc.). If it is a research position, emphasize research‐related experiences, and so on. LOCAL ADDRESS: It is very important to have a local address for D.C. employers. If you do not have one, try to list a friend’s or relative’s address in the area who can easily relay a message in a timely fashion. Typically, employers are looking to fill a position within a month and need to start the interview process immediately. You may not be considered at all if it appears that you’d need a long delay to relocate. It is also important to list your e‐mail address. WHAT TO LEAVE OFF • For an entry‐level position, omit an “objective” to avoid limiting your employment opportunities. • Unless you are right out of school, it is not customary to put your high school on your resume. • Also, there is no need to put “references available upon request” on your resume. It is understood that you will furnish references when asked. SAMPLE RESUME‐ ENTRY LEVEL EDUCATION 1991‐1995 1993‐1994 Susan B. Anthony 215 West Hills Drive McLean, VA 22908 (703)608‐4336 [email protected] Northwestern College Bachelor of Science: Communication Studies Minor: Spanish Literature Dean’s List, 1993‐1995 Kings, New York University of Madrid Madrid, Spain Fall Semester. Coursework included economic study of Latin America and Spanish cultural history. EXPERIENCE Sept. 1995‐ Present The Center for Educational Advancement Washington, D.C. Assistant to the President Responsible for tracking current events in education policy. Researched and issued informational requests to government officials, educators, media and public. Wrote weekly education newsletter. June 1995‐ Sept. 1995 The Heritage Foundation Washington, D.C. Intern, Resource Bank Wrote summaries of publications for The Insider newsletter’s educational, legal action, and foreign policy sections. Restructured Resource Bank Library containing information on 400+ policy groups. Performed some administrative duties. Jan. 1995‐ Sept. 1995 Kings County Republicans Kings, New York Volunteer Informed local community of upcoming political events. Served as liaison to the Northwestern College campus on upcoming political events occurring on campus. Participated in monthly policy discussions. Sept. 1994‐ Nov. 1994 Committee to Re‐elect Senator Bob Hope New York, New York Volunteer Helped coordinate and distribute campaign literature. Assisted in writing press releases and organizing media events. Planned political forum for candidates and the media. ACTIVITIES 1992‐1995 Delta Delta Delta Sorority. Alumni Chair 1994‐1995 1992‐1995 College Republicans 1993‐1995 S.O.M.E. (So Others Might Eat) local shelter, volunteer 1992‐1995 Northwestern Women’s Varsity Tennis; co‐captain 1994‐1995 SKILLS Fluent in Spanish; Windows ’95, Macintosh, Page Maker, Internet SAMPLE RESUME‐MID/UPPER LEVEL John Smith 555 North West Street Washington, D.C. 20036 H: (202) 555‐1111 W: (202) 555‐2222 EXPERIENCE 1/94‐Present Senior Litigation Counsel, Smith, Barney, & Lathem, Washington, D.C. • Assisted in maintaining national practice protecting property owners. • Drafted briefs, including sections for petitions to the U.S. Supreme Court. • Analyzed property rights issues facing Congress and educated members of Congress about these issues. • Maintained client relationships and evaluated potential clients and claims. 1/90‐1/94 Associate, James, Harris, & Kleinknecht, Lexington, Kentucky • Second‐chaired trials, including preparing chronologies, preparing jury instructions, researching and grafting trial motions and preparing documents for use at trial. • Drafted briefs and argued motions (including dispositive motions) encompassing attorney malpractice, bankruptcy, consumer protection statutes, and other aspects of discovery. • Took depositions and conducted all aspects of discovery. Law Clerk, U.S. Supreme Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, Kansas City, Missouri, 1/89‐1/90 • Drafted and researched opinions and bench memoranda concerning complex state law issues from securities regulation to First Amendment. • Analyzed and researched legal issues. • Offered advice on oral argument, requests for hearing en banc, and other issues. EDUCATION J.D. University of Missouri Kansas City, MO 1989 B.A., History William Jewell College Liberty, MO 1986 Full scholarship, graduated magna cum laude OTHER • Washington Shelter for the Homeless, Volunteer 1994‐Present • University of Missouri Young Republicans, Member 1986‐1989 • Bush for President Campaign, Volunteer 1992 • Speak fluent Spanish and Italian